The league will discuss expanding the playoffs by two teams at the owners meetings in May. The league would need to consult with the players union on a 14-team playoff.

Former Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar was removed as color analyst for the Browns' preseason games. He says it was because of slurred speech he attributes to concussions suffered while in the NFL.

Swimming

Michael Phelps, the 22-time Olympic medalist, lost to Ryan Lochte in the 100-meter butterfly at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa, Arizona. Lochte touched in 51.93 seconds, second-fastest in the world this year. Phelps took second in 52.13 in his first meet since retiring after the 2012 London Olympics. "I said I wanted to be around 52.0 and I would be completely happy with that," Phelps said.

Colleges

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Northwestern's football players will cast secret ballots Friday on whether to form the nation's first union for college athletes -- a vote that will be kept sealed for at least months. The National Labor Relations Board said it'll hear an appeal by the school challenging the decision from a regional NLRB director who ruled the players are university employees and have the right to unionize. The ballots will be impounded at least until the board issues a decision.

The NCAA's board of directors endorsed a plan that calls for giving 65 of the nation's biggest schools more autonomy. If approved by a two-thirds NCAA majority, schools in the Pac-12, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC could implement rules of their own.

Fresno State football coach Tim DeRuyter signed a contract extension that runs through 2018 worth at least $7.5 million.

Colorado's Spencer Dinwiddie will skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft. He suffered a torn knee ligament Jan. 12 at Washington.

Ben Martin shot a 10-under 62 in the first round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, Louisiana. He chipped in for birdie from 55 feet on the par-3 17th. Andrew Svoboda was second with a 64 at TPC Louisiana.